VERO BEACH, Fla., Nov. 12, 2012 - Piper Aircraft, Inc. and the Florida Institute of Technology have launched a Piper Aviation Career Alliance to educate and provide enhanced vocational opportunities for aviation program graduates as well as graduates from other programs offered through the school. The five-year agreement includes a fleet of new Piper training aircraft for the institute and enhanced career opportunities for its students and graduates through Piper internships, scholarships, career interviews, and mentoring.
"Piper is thrilled that the Florida Institute of Technology has agreed to become our launch customer for the Piper Aviation Career Alliance. We are doubly pleased that this top-flight institution has chosen our 75th overall birthday celebration and our 55th anniversary of becoming a Florida business to make the announcement," said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott at the company's celebratory anniversary Fly-In in Vero Beach.
Fleet of 24 New Piper Archers Possible
The Florida Institute of Technology's College of Aeronautics will take delivery of eight single-engine Piper Archer TX training airplanes during 2013 and also has options on 16 additional trainers (Archer TX or Seminole) for future delivery, bringing the total potential new aircraft under the agreement to a fleet of 24 aircraft. Neither party is releasing the value of the contract. The new Piper Archers will be among the first Piper training aircraft equipped with the Garmin G1000 glass panel avionics suite.
"Our new career alliance with Piper will help our graduates secure employment in the aviation industry in airline operations, airport and airline management, and as flight crew members in varied, responsible positions within corporate and commercial aviation and government agencies," said Kenneth Stackpoole, Ph.D., the Florida Institute of Technology's vice president of aviation programs and dean. "In addition, we are looking forward to integrating the new Piper Archers with the G1000 avionics into our student training curriculum."
Beginning in 2013, Piper Archer TX training aircraft will feature the Garmin G1000 all-glass avionics suite. It is a seamlessly integrated package that makes flight information easier for students to scan and process. The G1000's revolutionary design brings new levels of situational awareness, simplicity and safety to the training cockpit.
About the Piper Archer TX
As a classroom, the Piper Archer provides everything needed to learn to safely fly. Standard instrumentation includes the Garmin G1000 glass cockpit system, a perfect mixture of low workload and high technology. Piper's specially created flight school interior designed to withstand the rigors of flight training, is standard, and the option for factory-installed air conditioning adds to the Archer's appeal as a training aircraft. It is powered by the 180 hp Lycoming 0-360-A4M and offers 128 ktas / 237 km/h cruise speed.
About The Florida Institute of Technology
The Florida Institute of Technology's College of Aeronautics is recognized as one of the top university-based aviation programs in the nation. Its programs and faculty have earned an international reputation for excellence in the education and preparation of aviation professionals. It offers graduate and undergraduate programs in the Aeronautical Sciences to include Aviation Management, Pilot/Flight Crew, Aviation Computer Science, Meteorology, Airport Management and Development, Human Factors, and Aviation Safety. The college enrolls 400 undergraduate and graduate students in programs on its Melbourne, Florida, campus, in its Aeronautical Science Program in Panama, and many others through distance learning.
About Piper Aircraft
Piper Aircraft, Inc. is headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida. A global force in aviation, Piper is an investment of the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Brunei. The company offers efficient single-engine and twin-engine trainer, personal and business aircraft. With economical acquisition and operating costs, Piper airplanes deliver the best value available today and into the future. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
